This Tennessee Williams comedy might be off-putting in today's context, since it's about two white men whining about their white man's burden, which to them basically means having to be faithful to a wife and not getting to fool around anymore. The movie makes an attempt to pair hunky Anthony Franciosa with someone who might actually qualify as a bit dowdy, but what on earth Jim Hutton's problem is is never made clear, since he gets Jane Fonda. But whatever. The story is pretty insubstantial, but it's winningly acted by the entire cast. Fonda especially shows a flair for comedy. I never think of comedy when I think of her, but she's quite a good comedienne. Jim Hutton is funny too, and Franciosa, though more of the straight man, is certainly easy enough on the eyes.
And though I'm a bit flippant about the struggles the two male leads are going through in this movie, it does tap into that feeling that comes to most people at some point, that "is this all there is?" feeling, and that moment in life when you have to figure out how to live with that feeling or figure out how to get out from under it.
The film was somewhat randomly nominated for Best B&W Art Direction in 1962. Who knows, maybe an art director would look at this movie and see quite an accomplishment, but it's hard for a layman to understand what warranted the nomination.
Grade: B+
And though I'm a bit flippant about the struggles the two male leads are going through in this movie, it does tap into that feeling that comes to most people at some point, that "is this all there is?" feeling, and that moment in life when you have to figure out how to live with that feeling or figure out how to get out from under it.
The film was somewhat randomly nominated for Best B&W Art Direction in 1962. Who knows, maybe an art director would look at this movie and see quite an accomplishment, but it's hard for a layman to understand what warranted the nomination.
Grade: B+